CVE-2025-14541: Lucky Wheel Giveaway WordPress RCE Flaw

CVE-2025-14541 Overview

CVE-2025-14541 is a Remote Code Execution vulnerability affecting the Lucky Wheel Giveaway plugin for WordPress in all versions up to and including 1.0.22. The vulnerability exists in the conditional_tags parameter, where the plugin uses PHP's eval() function on user-controlled input without proper validation or sanitization. This allows authenticated attackers with Administrator-level access and above to execute arbitrary code on the server.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers with administrative privileges can achieve complete server compromise through arbitrary PHP code execution, potentially leading to full site takeover, data theft, malware injection, and lateral movement within the hosting environment.

Affected Products

• Lucky Wheel Giveaway plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 1.0.22
• WordPress installations using vulnerable versions of the wp-lucky-wheel plugin
• Web servers hosting affected WordPress installations

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-11 - CVE-2025-14541 published to NVD
• 2026-02-11 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-14541

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code / Code Injection). The Lucky Wheel Giveaway plugin contains a dangerous implementation flaw where user-supplied input through the conditional_tags parameter is passed directly to PHP's eval() function. The eval() function executes arbitrary PHP code contained in a string, making it extremely dangerous when combined with unsanitized user input.

While the vulnerability requires administrator-level authentication, it still presents a significant risk in several scenarios. Compromised admin accounts, social engineering attacks targeting site administrators, or insider threats could all leverage this vulnerability. Once exploited, an attacker can execute arbitrary PHP code with the full privileges of the web server user, potentially leading to complete server compromise.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the use of PHP's eval() function to process user-controlled input from the conditional_tags parameter without implementing proper input validation, sanitization, or allowlist filtering. The eval() function is inherently dangerous and should be avoided in favor of safer alternatives, especially when handling any form of user input. The plugin developers failed to implement adequate security controls before executing dynamic code.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires no user interaction beyond authentication. An attacker with valid WordPress administrator credentials can craft malicious input in the conditional_tags parameter. When the plugin processes this input through eval(), the attacker's arbitrary PHP code executes on the server. This could include commands to read sensitive files, establish reverse shells, create backdoor accounts, modify database entries, or pivot to other systems accessible from the web server.

The vulnerability mechanism involves the conditional_tags parameter being passed to PHP's eval() function without sanitization. An attacker with administrator access can inject arbitrary PHP code through this parameter, which gets executed with the privileges of the web server process. For detailed technical information about the specific code changes that addressed this vulnerability, refer to the WordPress Changeset Update and the Wordfence Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14541

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected PHP files or web shells appearing in WordPress directories, particularly in /wp-content/plugins/wp-lucky-wheel/
• Unusual outbound network connections from the web server to unknown IP addresses
• Modified plugin files with timestamps inconsistent with legitimate update activity
• Suspicious entries in web server access logs showing unusual POST requests to plugin endpoints with encoded or obfuscated parameters

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress admin activity logs for unusual changes to Lucky Wheel Giveaway plugin settings or repeated access to plugin configuration pages
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block eval() injection patterns in HTTP requests
• Deploy file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized modifications to plugin source files
• Review server logs for PHP error messages related to code execution or unexpected function calls

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable comprehensive logging for WordPress administrative actions and plugin interactions
• Configure alerts for any modifications to files within the wp-lucky-wheel plugin directory
• Monitor server resource utilization for anomalies that could indicate malicious code execution
• Implement network traffic analysis to detect command-and-control communications or data exfiltration attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14541

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Lucky Wheel Giveaway plugin to a version newer than 1.0.22 immediately
• Audit WordPress administrator accounts and remove any unauthorized or unnecessary admin users
• Review server logs and file systems for indicators of compromise before and after patching
• Consider temporarily deactivating the plugin if an immediate update is not possible

Patch Information

A patch addressing this vulnerability has been released. The security fix can be reviewed in the WordPress Changeset Update. Organizations should update to the latest version of the Lucky Wheel Giveaway plugin through the WordPress plugin repository. Additional vulnerability details are available in the Wordfence Vulnerability Report.

Workarounds

• Deactivate and delete the Lucky Wheel Giveaway plugin if it is not business-critical until an update can be applied
• Implement strict access controls limiting the number of WordPress administrator accounts
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall with rules specifically blocking eval() injection attempts
• Enable two-factor authentication for all WordPress administrative accounts to reduce the risk of credential compromise

# Configuration example
# Disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI until patched
wp plugin deactivate wp-lucky-wheel --path=/var/www/html/wordpress

# Verify plugin is deactivated
wp plugin status wp-lucky-wheel --path=/var/www/html/wordpress

# Update plugin to latest version when available
wp plugin update wp-lucky-wheel --path=/var/www/html/wordpress